Google Faces Antitrust Investigations In The US

Google may soon face legal orders by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the United States to testify regarding its dominance in the online search market.

According to the Los Angeles Times FTC regulators are very close to issuing the legal equivalent of subpoenas to Google to begin an antitrust investigation regarding the behaviour of the company in the web-based search market.

The antitrust investigation, which was started by the attorneys general of California, Ohio and New York will look into complaints by Google’s competitors regarding its behaviour towards rival organisations in the search results, the Wall Street Journal reported

"Google engages in anti-competitive behavior that harms consumers by restricting the ability of other companies to compete to put the best products and services in front of Internet users, who should be allowed to pick winners and losers online." the Fairsearch group stated in an official statement. The group consists of Google’s rival companies such as Expedia and Microsoft.

The company which champions the American as well as global web-based search market is also facing investigation by the European Commission for thwarting industry competitors.